The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1887-02-04
RESOURCES o. Japan.
Extracts from . vsiusbls nspert ~ ~
Austrian Consul ~ Yokohsms.

Austrian Consul ~ Yokohsms.
Mr.. Krcitner. the Consul for Austria
Hungary at Yokohama, has published
In Vienna journal an elaborate and
interesting report upon Japan, from
which we take q few extracts. Inc
kingdom consists Of 500 islands lin
Guiding the Kurile and Liu-Kiu groupO, !
the vast majority Of which are Of sub
marine volcanic creation. while only
the four larger ones - viz: Yesso.
Niphon, Shikoku and Kiusiu-have
been detached from the continent by
deprcssions and foundations. The best
harbors are: Matsmai and Hakodadi.
IN Yesso; Idsu. Yokohama, Schimidzu,
Toba, Matoya. Nugata, Kobe. Nagoya
and Mitaroi. in Niphon; Jakamatsu and
Sanuki. in Shikoku; Kagosima and
Nagasaki. in Kiusiu. Fusi Yama, r.
200 feet in height, has been inactive
since 1907, when q terrible eruption
occurred. spreading destruction far and
wide; similar catastrophes arc recorded
10 have happened at intervals Of ITO
years since 2S6 Il. c., and II is a
general belief. therefore, that fresh
outburst is imminent. Earthquakes.
though frequent. never lose their
terror; II Il calculated that at least one
entire town falls a victim to their
ravagcs every seven years. and in 1865
Toxic suffered loss Of sixteen thou
sand houses and an equal number OF
inhabitants. The difference Of climate
in the northern and southern isles is as
, | great rs that between Iceland and Sicily,
! and though nowhere Is il absolutely
, inimical to the health q Europeans, yet
, its extreme humidity and mutuability
, | are a source Of serious discomfort. The
coal-mincs are now worked on modern
principles and with improved machin-
cry. The output in 1881 was 100000
tons. Foreign vessels can always get
! a sufficient supply at Nagasaki. The
existence Of petroleum has been known
! for centuries. but began to be in use
only fifty years ago. 1t would be OF
the very best quality II properly
cleansed. In 1883 thirteen hundred
!. new wells were opened, at depths vary
! Ing from thirty to three hundred yards.
: Mines are government property. They
!, are let out to natives at high royalties,
and are moreover subject 10 exception.
= ally heavy taxation. Foreigners are
!. excluded from all participation in them
: except as engineers.
!. Gold mining and washing have proved
: unrcmunerative. and more than ons
! hundred placers now stand idle. AL
|. though gold and silver were discovered
!. in the eighth and ninth centuries, tin
4 japanese are still 50 unskillful in sepa
J. rating the two metals that their gold
: has invariably an alloy Of silver. Ow
J ing 70 a gIut Of the precious metals il
Japan in the sixteenth and seventeenth
centuries. and the ignorance prevailin,
Of their current value in the rest Of tn
world. more than one thousand million
. Of gold gulden were drawn from th
J country by the Portuguese and Dutc
!" within the period q one hundred years
= The conditions are now 50 change
= that Japan i obliged TO supply he
u want of tine precious metals by imperts
y tions from Corca- China America an
= !. Australia Copper was discovered an
\, employed for coinage earlier than gold
!" viz. in the seventh century. Notwitf
= standing the abundance Of iron orc !
= the country. its manufacture i :
= clumsy and costly that II fails
= compete with the foreign article
- Steel. however. u the very hc,
s quality. especially for sword blade
- i turned out hut the secret I
it, manufacture has not been divulgc'
y Few precious stones, and those only I
n, inferior order. are found. Asbestos
|. ~ an excellent Kind comes from the pro
~ incc u Hiuga- Of plants. the caInph'
~ tree ought to furnish useful erpo
- for trunk makers. as the wood IL An Z
IN fectual Iresarvative against moth
~ The manufacture Of camphor oil fro
~ the leaves Of She tree j. known - Il
- Japanese only in it, rnder stages; q
=. - refining processes take place in CHR
=; and are speciality Of that people III
~ culture Of the lacquer tree ocrupi
~ many thousands in the fields and maj
y. ~ more in the workshops. preparing
~ sap for the famous lacqucr-vare. III
~ latter Is = most delicate and d'nicr
y: operation. whose secrets are bus lit
~ known beyond the circle Of the gull
The preparation Of the fruit q ths vi
'as tree Is another q; the cherished mono
rm olics Of Japan. Il requires unceasi'
,re care and attenl IN. and the result
ne very valuable item in commerce
'es japanese agriculture has unds
~ gone little change for ccntUs'is
only one-tenth Of the whole land, aso
are one-fourth Of the so-called fertile Psr'
'n- is cultivated. A recent attempt On g
an part 81 the Government 20 cxploit =
Or island Of Yesso in IN agricultural son
rm has been abandoned. the severity
mo the climate being rhe main cause
pie failure. Tobacco was introduced an
e. Japan BY the Portuguese a few va
a. after Raleigh brought US that sootlii
and taxable weed. Il il now wide
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